Emily in Paris says “Au Revoir”
I was Emily in Paris before the Netflix series debuted.
When people ask what brought me to Paris, the short answer is: Disney.
The long answer? A massive leap of faith.
I caught the travel bug while on contract at Tokyo Disneyland and was eager to add another international Disney park to my resume. There was an opportunity at Disneyland Paris that I was so sure was a perfect fit for me.
And I almost got it.
I came so close to booking the role and when I didn’t, I was devastated. So I did something wild: within three weeks, I found a job as an au pair, secured a visa, and booked a flight to Paris. If Disney wouldn’t bring me to France, I’d bring myself. Surely, once I was there, learned French, and got settled, that dream role would be mine.
I landed in Paris with stars in my eyes in January of 2020. Within weeks, I was having coffee with a casting director, lining up auditions, and finding local dance classes. I was on a roll.
And then, everything stopped.
Borders closed. Live entertainment vanished.
The dream I’d uprooted my life for was suddenly... gone.
I was living with a French family, taking care of three kids who didn’t speak English. My French vocabulary at the time? Bonjour, croissant, and one other word: merde.
As the pandemic dragged on, I kept asking myself: Should I stay or should I go?
But where would I go? The industry back home was shut down. My friends were furloughed, or laid off and moving home. At least in Paris I had work, a roof over my head, and the chance to explore the city and learn French.
So, I stayed.
I thought it would be a few months. It turned into a year and a half.
But I didn’t just wrangle kids. When restrictions eased, I jumped back into dance and voice lessons. And when auditions didn’t come? I rented a theater and produced my own show. I taught English and voice, became fluent in French, and started dating the man who would become my husband.
Eventually, Disney did bring back entertainment—and this time, I got cast. Not in the role I originally chased (it never returned after Covid), but in a new role that turned out to be an even better fit.
It was worth the wait.
Life was Really good. I had the job, my own apartment, and I was in love. My contract ended, my boyfriend proposed, and I became a married woman!
Then came another season of waiting: applying for my husband’s green card.
We thought it would take less than a year.
It took almost two!
While we traveled across Europe and made amazing memories, we also lived in limbo. I felt stuck—paused—watching the timeline stretch with no clear answers. I second-guessed myself. Should I have taken a full-time job? Committed to something more? Maybe. But how could I, knowing we might move at a moment’s notice?
Still, this awkward, undefined season gave me time and space to do some incredible things:
🖊️ I wrote and published a book I wish I’d had when I was starting out—a guide to building a life and career in the performing arts.
🎭 I taught masterclasses and workshops, spoke on podcasts, and mentored students through my sorority and university networks.
🎤 I coached performers in voice, interview prep, and audition strategy—and watched my clients book roles around the world.
✈️ And hubby and I made the most of every cheap Ryanair flight we could find.
No, I wasn’t working full-time.
But I was working—with purpose, on projects that mattered deeply to me.
This in-between season strengthened my skills as a coach, gave me time to reflect, and helped me pour into others—and into myself.
Then, suddenly, everything moved fast. Lightning fast! My husband’s visa was approved. And just like that, the waiting was over.
Am I sad to leave Paris?
Honestly… no.
I’m sad to leave friends and family, of course. But we’ve waited so long for this next step that all I feel is excitement.
Still, Paris changed me—deeply and for the better.
It taught me patience.
Patience as I fumbled through a new language, making mistakes and slowly finding my voice.
Patience in building relationships with people very different from me, turning strangers into friends.
Patience through endless waiting—waiting for roles, visas, and life to catch up with my dreams.
And patience with myself—learning to be kind when progress felt slow or uncertain. Because life and career aren’t a race or competition. They unfold in their own time, often in ways we don’t expect but come to appreciate.
I’m leaving with lifelong friends and a heart full of memories.
And let’s be honest—my husband’s French. We’ll always come back.
(We’ll always have Paris, lol.)
So, what’s next?
Yet another period of waiting! Because life, it seems, is a series of transitions.
No, we don’t have jobs lined up yet. But hey—I came to Paris with a visa and a dream, and I’m leaving with a book, a career I’m proud of, and a husband.
Sometimes, a dream is all you need.
Netflix’s next season of Emily in Paris takes place in Rome.
I’ve been. The pasta is really good.
But this Emily? She’s headed back to Carolina. She’s coming back with new stories to share and yes, a new last name.
Excited for what comes next and for this new chapter to begin.
America, here we come!
Fin.